Football

Four-star high school QB recruit Chubba Purdy changes commitment to Florida State

By Joshua Pease Dec 20, 2019
Chubba Purdy (Photo courtesy of Purdy family)

After a recent visit to Florida State, four-star quarterback Chubba Purdy announced his commitment this week to become a Seminole, not a Louisville Cardinal. He had verbally committed to Louisville in June, but spending time on the FSU campus head coach Mike Norvell and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham changed his mind.

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“I love people and love having relationships with people, and after 6-8 months of relationship with Louisville, it was super hard for me to call them and tell them,” Purdy said about changing his commitment. “I just thank them for all they’ve done for me and my family and keeping that relationship, but I just think this opportunity is better for me and my family and I just had to take it.”

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Purdy passed for 3,369 yards and 33 touchdowns with seven interceptions his senior season at Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz., and he ran for an additional 1,054 yards and 19 TDs. He joins Florida State’s 2020 recruiting class that is ranked No. 22 in the nation, according to 247Sports.

And he’ll join his older brother, Brock, at the highest level of college football. Brock just completed his sophomore season at Iowa State, in which he became the school’s single-season record holder for completions, passing yards, total offense and passing touchdowns.

Both boys are also faithful followers of Christ. In the Fall 2019 issue of Sports Spectrum Magazine, Chubba said, “Everything I do is for the Lord. I pray before every game; I pray every day and night. I’ve been able to bring a few [high school] teammates to church with me and my family, and they really enjoy being around us. I hope that my teammates see how joyful I am and get why I’m always happy — it’s Christ through me.”

Chubba and Brock’s father, Shawn, recently joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast to talk about his faith, his three children, and his own eight-year career in baseball’s minor leagues. Shawn said that when Chubba was 8 or 9 years old, his son came to him in tears with a desire to commit his life to Christ.

“Something grabbed a hold of Chubba and he said, ‘Hey, I’m ready to do this. I understand this,” Shawn said.

Within a matter of weeks, Chubba had influenced his older siblings, Whitney and Brock, to do the same. Shawn baptized each of them.

“More than any sports or anything,” Shawn said on the podcast, “their walk with Christ is what I’m most proud of.”

RELATED STORIES:
— NEW PODCAST: Shawn Purdy, Former Pro Baseball Player
— Iowa State QB Brock Purdy turns in record-breaking performance, aims to ‘put Him first’
— QB Deondre Francois ‘lost sight of God’ at Florida State, grateful for opportunity at Hampton

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